Elizabethtown, NC (7 Oct. 2020) – Fish Out of Water Career Development Center, Inc. is pleased to announce it has received a two-year grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration. Funds from the Title V Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program will support the Anchors Up program. The project is designed to teach youth personal responsibility, self-regulation, goal setting, healthy decision-making, a focus on the future, and the prevention of youth risk behaviors such as drug and alcohol use without normalizing teen sexual activity. Anchors Up will provide services to interested students and families in Bladen County.
At its core, Anchors Up, is an abstinence education program that aims to assist all youth in charting a course to success. The program will provide services to students in an after-school format. The program meets the area need as Bladen County has a teenage pregnancy rate of 42.1 per 1000 exceeding the state rate of 24.6. Additionally, 2019 County Health Ranking data, list Bladen as 93 out 100 in overall health considering healthy behavior, socioeconomic factors, clinical care, and physical environment.
Founder of Fish Out Of Water, Dr. Vanessa Cogdell Moore, shares, “I am so excited about this award and the program’s potential to positively impact the youth of Bladen County. This grant aligns with our belief that with training, support, and education rural youth can reach their full potential. The Anchors Up program will serve as a compass guiding and supporting students in developing healthy relationships while navigating successful transitions from school to work, military, or college. We are grateful for the community support and look forward to strong collaborations with Bladen County Schools, the Bladen County Department of Health & Human Services, Bladen Community College, Fayetteville State University, local faith-based organizations, government officials, along with wellness and medical professionals. We intend to provide an excellent opportunity for positive youth development and uplift our youth.”